AuRico Gold Inc. announces that following its receipt of gross proceeds of $750 million relating to the recent sale of the Ocampo mine, the Board of Directors has authorized the making of a substantial issuer bid, pursuant to which the Company will offer to purchase for cancellation up to 36,144,578 of its outstanding common shares for an aggregate purchase price not exceeding $300 million. AuRico anticipates that the Offer will commence on or about December 18, 2012 and be completed in late January 2013, unless extended or withdrawn. The Company intends to fund purchases of Shares pursuant to the Offer from the Ocampo proceeds and has used $128 million of the proceeds to retire its existing debt facility.